Documenting an Intimate Ceremony in Nara Park: Sam & Jon's Elopement
Nara Park in Japan is a massive park at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa, home to temples, shrines, and over 1,200 wild, free roaming sika deer. They are considered sacred messengers of the gods, representing a unique 1,300 year tradition of coexistence between humans and wildlife.
When visitors come here, these tame deer are often seen without antlers. This is because of the deer antler cutting ceremony, or Shika no Tsunokiri, which takes place every October. It is a symbolic tradition where the antlers of aggressive male deer are carefully and ritually cut, representing the balance between the deer and the people of Nara.
Speaking of symbolic traditions, my clients Sam and Jon traveled from Perth, Australia to Japan for their own meaningful ceremony in Nara Park. Although they are based in Perth, their families are Italian. They first met through karate, which they now run together. They have been engaged for two months and are also four months pregnant!
Before getting legally married in Perth, they wanted to exchange vows in a more personal setting. Instead of a structured ceremony, they chose to keep it simple, just the two of them surrounded by nature and deer.
While planning their day, Jon mentioned that he preferred candid photos over posed ones. They also wanted a static video option to capture their vows and quiet moments walking through the park.
Since they were traveling from abroad, I also offered a few additional services to make their elopement as seamless as possible. We arranged white oriental lilies with a local florist for Sam, and also organized hotel pick up and drop off so they could focus on getting ready and enjoying the day.
This was a special occasion, so I went to Nara Park the day before to scout the area and find the best possible location for their vows.
On the day itself, everything was kept simple and intentional. They exchanged vows quietly, without a formal setup.
I made sure to give them the space they needed to fully take in the moment while still capturing everything naturally. It was serene, intimate, and exactly how they envisioned it.
We then went around the huge park and proceeded to take more photos for them to keep forever.
I could not be more grateful to have been part of this meaningful exchange of vows for Sam and Jon. It was a beautiful way to begin their next chapter, not just as a married couple, but also as they prepare to become parents.
If you are planning an intimate elopement in Japan, I would be happy to help you bring it together. From location scouting to coordinating the small details, we can create something that feels natural and personal.
Take a look at the available packages below and let’s start planning something meaningful for your trip.
